Counting my blessings

I have been lucky enough to take a week’s holiday while the children (I use this term loosely as the two youngest are now 12 and 14) are on half term. I had intended getting away for a few days but unfortunately Pete is busy working so we’re home doing whatever takes our fancy, which is then weather dependent. Well we do live in the beautiful UK so one can never guarantee dry weather!

As I sat in my daughter’s garden the other day watching my youngest son and youngest grandson play, I was filled with a renewed awareness of all I have to be thankful for.

A few days before this (last Friday I think) our middle daughter had called round after work picking her little brother up on the way. The day was glorious. Blue skies, blazing sun and we were all ready for our week’s holiday. A time when we could just chill. A time when we could turn the alarms off because we didn’t have to be somewhere. A time to take things easy and just be.

On that Friday afternoon and evening I’m pretty sure I had the same overwhelming feeling of thankfulness. Blessedness. Here were two of my girls (you can just make out one of them laying in the hammock) doing what teenage girls and young women love to do; bathing in the sunshine reading, dozing, enjoying just being still, out in the fresh air surrounded by those who love you and you them.

I am ashamed to say I’m not always as thankful as I should be. Sometimes the frustrations of life get in the way and I find one or more of my Fantastic Five an inconvenience. That’s a terrible thing for a mother to say I know, but I’m just being honest. Sometimes I could do without having to taxi them here and there and everywhere, of collect and deliver furniture because they haven’t got big enough cars and so on. Why? Because actually there’s something Pete and I might like to do, and sometimes that something is actually not having to do anything.

I moan about the state of their bedrooms, their lack of respect (from a parent’s perspective), their inability to save, their unwillingness to help around the house, their ‘need it NOW!’ culture and on and on… Hopefully I’m not alone? Hopefully there are many parents out there for whom some of this resonates and I can rest in the knowledge that I’m not really a ‘bad mother’ for my thoughts and meanings, just a ‘normal’ one (whatever that is!)

Yet when all is said and done, as I reflect again on my recent garden experiences I do know that over and above all else I am truly blessed.

God blessed me with a good husband (same moaning and groaning takes place I’m afraid 😂); my Fantastic Five; my home; my friends and just about everything else I can think of that is good in my life.

4 & 5 with Great-neice

Great-neice photobombed

My 2 of 5 & grandson

So, to my wonderful, funny, loyal, beautiful, thoughtful family know that even though I don’t say it half as much as I should, I am proud of each and every one of you. Thank you for being who you are and with every fibre of my being…

I LOVE YOU!

🌹 💛 🌹

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”

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Hi, I'm just an ordinary woman: a mum, wife, administrator, spiritual director prayer guide and an OU student. I'm fortunate to accompany others on their spiritual journey, including the privilege of praying with and for them. I hope you enjoy exploring my blog and find something that resonates with you. I love connecting with people so please feel free to leave a comment.
May the peace and joy of the Lord always be with you.
Vanessa :-) x